Cases: Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) as a hospice diagnosis?

Conclusion: In this case, a simple condition that is easily treatable in most men became one that we expected to lead to Mr. K’s death. However, the diagnosis that led it to become life-limiting was Mr. K’s dementia, and the heavy burden which BPH treatments would have placed on him. Mr. K’s daughter based her decision on Mr. K’s values, saying that if the father she was raised by was able to see himself in his current condition, he would have wanted both to stay in place and to be allowed to die with dignity. Forced catheterization and antipsychotic treatment might have prolonged his life by years but would have caused terrible suffering to himself and his family. With the decision to allow his BPH to progress with minimal intervention, we were able to discharge Mr. K to enroll in hospice at his nursing home and completed a POLST form indicating “comfort measures only”. References:1.) American Urological Association Guideline: Management of Benign Prostatatic Hyperplasia (BPH) 2010. http://www.auanet.org/education/guidelines/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia.cfm Accessed August 24, 2014.2.) Burnett AL, Wein AJ. Benign prostatic hyperplasia in primary care: what you need to know. J Urol 2006; 175:S19.3.) Dull PD, Reagan RW, Bahnson RR. Managing benign prostatic hyperplasia. Am Fam Physician. 2002 Jul 1;66(1):77-85. Open AccessOriginal Case by Julie Childers, MD, Edited by Christian Sinclair, MDOriginally posted at the Institute to Enhance Palliative Care,Universit...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - Category: Palliative Carer Workers Tags: cases childers emergency care hospice medications POLST urology Source Type: blogs